Some books just seem to sell themselves, and whether it's in our little bookshop or online we see some authors and some books in particular that continue to sell well even after years of other new releases taking up the limelight. Here's a round up of 10 of the books or authors that we see customers coming back time and time again for!
When you think about how many new books are being published constantly (you only have to take a look at one of our new release round up posts for an idea!) it's even more impressive that certain books and authors continue to sell well, years after they come out. Sometimes it's thanks to word of mouth, more often now than ever its also thanks to books getting shared across BookTok and Bookstagram (the bookish side of Tik Tok and Instagram). Whatever the reason, it's always a joy to see people coming back to buy the favourites.
From the classic children's books that are still popular, to the tik tok titles, and the classic fantasy/sci fi series - here's some of the books and authors we see selling constantly!
Anything by Kristin Hannah
I must start with a confession - I am yet to read my first Kristin Hannah! I blame customers for this for two reasons:
- Her books sell themselves so I really don't need to do much work for them to leave in reader's hands!
- It's too hard to know which one to start with (although I have asked many Kristin Hannah lovers in store and narrowed it down to a top 3 situation: The Women, The Nightingale, or The Great Alone).
My own shortcomings aside, Kristin Hannah is the queen of emotional historical stories that will leave you aching for more. A similar kind of series that I have in fact read and also see people coming back time and time again to buy is The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley! Another expert at bringing together vivid historical settings with a gripping plot. So if you've loved one try the other!
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
I remember being 13 years old and having many a near traffic accident because I had my nose deep in this novel about a young boy in Egype searching for the secrets of destiny and purpose across the sands of Egypt. This one is such a popular book I think for people first getting into reading more spiritual fiction, but also as a gift and a keepsake.
It's short, but remains a powerful story that carries meaning for many of our customers and the people they gift it to.
The Classic Picture Books (Think Hairy MacClary and Eric Carle!)
There are countless gorgeous new picture books (if you're ever looking for suggestions pop in store and we'll shower you with them!) but people still can't resist the special nostalgia of the picture books we loved as kids.
The range of Hairy MacClary stories by Kiwi treasure Lynley Dodd are not just good because they're nostalgic, that band of pups is a classic for good reason. Lynley is a star with writing a story that is as fun to read aloud as it is to listen to. She reminds me a lot of why I also love Julia Donaldson's books (another author who sells herself and who I could write a whole blog about). They use a variety of interesting vocabulary, beautiful and iconic illustrations, and just really great storytelling and characters. If you want a gorgeous gift I highly recommend the beautiful hardback treasury of Hairy MacClary stories.
Another author I'm always surprised people come seeking out is Eric Carle! His unique illustrations and classic stories make him a go-to choice for gifting to grandchildren, or for baby showers. My personal favourite at the moment is The Mixed Up Chameleon - a gorgeous story about a little reptile who goes on a journey of self-discovery after a zoo visit.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I swear at least once a week a customer comes in to buy this book despite it being published almost 10 years ago! This book is one of my favourite recommendations for anyone stuck in a reading slump (you can find out more about that right here!).
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is about a Hollywood icon as she recounts a life of scandal, ambition, and love, to the journalist writing her memoir. It's Taylor Jenkins Reid at her finest - writing characters and settings that feel so real you can't help but believe you're reading about the life of a real Evelyn Hugo.
The Land of Tolkein
Tim W will be happy to confirm that Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and every other Tolkein related thing continues to pop up every day either selling itself in the bookshop or in the online orders heading out. Whether it's a stunning hardback edition of The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, or a Tolkein inspired Recipe Book or Boardgame - Middle-Earth continues to enchant us away from reality with it's OG world building that is just like no other.
As a pre-teen I was irrationally obsessed with The Lord of the Rings (I may or may not have had a Frodo cut out from the cinema in my tiny bedroom) so I am not judging if you're buying your third edition of LOTR.
Roald Dahl - Still a Go-To For a Reason
I feel like we all grew up with Roald Dahl stories and probably have a favourite. Despite the many incredible kids authors out there, these stories stand the test of time and the writing is so uniquely funny and quirky and engaging that it's hard to go past a Matilda or The Twits when someone is looking for their first chapter books. For me personally, Fantastic Mr Fox was the first book I ever read myself without adult assistance and so will forever be a favourite.
The Classics (Hello, Count of Monte Cristo)
You don't have to be scrolling long to see The Count of Monte Cristo pop up in your feed somewhere. Alexandre Dumas would be shocked at how well he is selling thanks to social media, but once you've read the book it all makes sense. This is an epic story of revenge, betrayal and patience. It's an incredibly satisfying read, and well worth it's page count. This Penguin Classics edition in particular is a great one to pick up because I've heard that the translation is particularly good and makes for a very engaging and surprisingly easy read.
Robin Hobb's Character Driven Fantasy
Robin Hobb is such a surprise to me as a bookseller! I somehow accidentally went my whole life not knowing anything about her amazing fantasy writing, and yet almost every day someone comes to grab one of her many novels from the Elderlings Saga.
I have finally got with the programme and read Assasin's Apprentice and Royal Assasin, both 5 star spectacular fantasy novels like nothing else (not that I need to sell them to anyone at this point).
In case you're new to Robin Hobb, but the idea of an incredible new fantasy saga with an incredible character-first approach, and beautifully precise prose appeals, start with The Farseer Trilogy!
Books about Fungi
Bare with me - we are just a bit obsessed with mushrooms and beautiful books about mushrooms. These ones just seem to find their people and also make the most perfect gifts for specific friends and whānau. This one in particular is still a firm favourite despite coming out back in 2023 and customers still come in and pick it up, entranced by its stunning cover design and the focus on Kiwi fungi.
If you're already a fan of this one and looking for your next fungi fix The Secret Life of Fungi should be your next buy. It's another absolutely stunning book, packed to the brim with beautiful photography and fascinating stories about the fungi that grow all around us.
Also, if being a self-confessed nature nerd sounds familiar make sure you check out our recent blog about books for people who love the planet!
Tik Tok's Dark Romance Go-To's
I'm quite grateful these books sell themselves because it's tricky pitching the latest Dark Romance to unsuspecting readers. As a newly converted Dark Romance girly myself (I blame the many customers who come in to pick up their orders and rave to me about them!) there are a few titles that are just constantly flying out the door thanks to their presence on social media.
Some of the books I've been seeing customers repeatedly buying lately are L.J. Shen's Bad Bishop and Twisted Pawn, K. M. Monrova's special forces inspired duology Dark Forces, H. D. Carlton's Cat & Mouse Duet, and Leigh River's traumatizing Edge of Darkness series which currently has me in a chokehold. All of these require quite extensive trigger warnings so read with care!
If you've never read a Dark Romance before and want to know what all the fuss is about, I would recommend starting with Navessa Allen's Into Darkness series, or Brynne Weaver's Ruinous Love trilogy! Both of these are still definitely dark and involve murder and/or crime alongside the romance storylines, but are most like Dark rom-coms!
We love the books that sell themselves, and we also love those ones that people come in knowing nothing about and leave with a copy of! For every book that customers come to us to find, there's plenty more that we love and try to make sure people know about.
Let us know what you think we missed!
